Ed Davey, the Lib Dem Energy Secretary, takes questions from MPs on the
planned Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in Somerset

Ed Davey, the Energy Secretary, said he expected EDF’s energy prices to be “competitive”. I’m sure they will be. At the moment, energy firms are extremely competitive. First, SEE announced a price rise of 8.2 per cent. British Gas swiftly trumped them with a rise of 9.2 per cent. Not to be outdone, npower have gone further still with a rise of 10.4 per cent.

Later Mr Davey made a statement to the Commons about what a good deal he’d struck. But he acknowledged that not everyone in his party, the Lib Dems, would agree. “I respect those,” he said, “who have long been opposed to nuclear technology on principle.”

The Labour benches laughed. Once upon a time, Mr Davey had long been opposed to nuclear technology on principle himself.

Normally, Labour’s spokesman on energy is Caroline Flint, but she’d been unable to make it down from her constituency of Don Valley. Aptly enough, her train had been cancelled because of a power failure.

This is perfectly sound advice, as far as keeping warm goes, but I find it is less useful when it comes to cooking food. On Friday night I enthusiastically followed the Prime Minister’s advice on energy bill-cutting by wrapping a frozen pizza in a knitted pullover. Results proved disappointing. Perhaps I didn’t leave it wrapped up for long enough. I’ll be sure to ask the Prime Minister next time I see him.

Mr Davey responded to any criticisms bullishly, telling the House that without new power stations like the one in Somerset we’d be hopelessly dependent on energy from abroad. (Instead we’re just going to be hopelessly dependent on energy firms from abroad, to build and run our power stations.)

Nigel Evans, former Deputy Speaker, said the power station was great news, because we should support “anything that protects England’s green and pleasant land from the invasion of yet more wind turbines”. Whether he thinks England’s green and pleasant land is improved by the sight of power stations, I’m not sure.

“I will not cease from mental fight/ Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand/ Till we have built two whacking great nuclear reactors/ On England’s green and pleasant land.”